Coach Lynn Named Semifinalist for Broyles Award
November 20, 2023 | Football
Little Rock, Ark. -- The Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced on Monday that UCLA Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn was a semifinalist for the 2023 Broyles Award, which honors college football's top assistant coaches.
Coach Lynn has made his first season as a Bruin a special one as UCLA leads the nation in rushing defense (64.6 yards per game) and is rated 12th in total defense (298.7 yards per game). The 2.17 yards per rush average allowed also tops the nation. UCLA is tied for second in the nation with three rushing TDs allowed this season. The Bruins D is tied for second nationally with 40 sacks, just one behind the leader. Opponents are averaging 4.53 yards per play against the Bruins which is the sixth-best mark in the country. UCLA leads the Pac-12 in scoring defense (16.7 ppg), team sacks (3.64 per game), tackles for loss (8.5), turnovers gained (tied-21) and total defense.
Individually, defensive lineman Laiatu Latu paces the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and is rated third nationally in sacks per game (1.18). Defensive back Alex Johnson leads the Pac-12 and ranks 12th in the nation with a 0.4 interceptions per game mark. The Bruins have totaled 39 more tackles for loss through 11 games than a season ago and have upped their sack total by 13 from 2022. UCLA was credited with 11 tackles for loss in games against both Utah and Arizona which is the most by a Bruin team since 2011. The Bruins have given up less than 100 rushing yards in a game and held opponents under 20 points eight times each this season.
The 15 semifinalists were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing all FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches. Five finalists will be chosen and invited to Little Rock for the awards luncheon at the Statehouse Convention Center on Dec. 5.
"The Broyles Award is a celebration of bonds: between coach and team, between head and assistant coaches, and between coaches, both active and retired, across the country," said Molly Harrell, Executive Director of the Broyles Award.
The 2023 Broyles Award semifinalists are:
-- UCLA defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn
-- Georgia offensive coordinator/QBs coach Mike Bobo
-- LSU offensive coordinator/TEs coach Mike Denbrock
-- Penn State defensive coordinator/LBs coach Manny Diaz
-- Louisville defensive coordinator Ron English
-- Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller
-- Washington offensive coordinator/QBs coach Ryan Grubb
-- James Madison defensive coordinator/LBs coach Bryant Haines
-- Ohio State defensive coordinator/LBs coach Jim Knowles
-- Texas defensive coordinator/OLBs coach Pete Kwiatkowski
-- Michigan offensive coordinator/OL coach Sherrone Moore
-- Iowa defensive coordinator/DBs coach Phil Parker
-- Missouri DL/Edge coach Kevin Peoples
-- Alabama offensive coordinator/QBs coach Tommy Rees
-- Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein
